ATETV Blog

Posts Tagged ‘Agriculture Technology’

This week not only brings us more hours of daylight, warmer temperatures and the promise of spring, it’s the annual celebration of National Agriculture Day, which this year features the theme, “Your Food, Your Farmer.”

Farming is such an integral part of our lives, it can be easy to take farmers for granted. But try surviving without them: According to the American Farm Bureau, the average U.S. farmer is responsible for feeding 155 people each year. And that’s three times the amount produced per farmer 50 years ago.

The good news is that the past several years have witnessed a growing awareness of the food we eat — and where it comes from. For example, a resurgence in Farmers Markets, which now total more than 6,100 cross-country, bring locally produced fruits and vegetables, meats, cheese, flowers and breads to consumers in every state in the nation, and bring the community face-to-face with the people behind their agriculture.

At the same time, the Farm-to-School initiative, launched by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), gets kids involved in agriculture from an early age. The program uses classroom lessons, farm tours and even hands-on planting of community gardens as some of the many ways to help children understand how their food reaches their plates.

Meanwhile, the USDA website, “Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food,” introduces all of us to the bountiful ways that farmers, large and small, make a difference in our lives, whether it’s by promoting healthy eating, protecting natural resources or strengthening rural communities and economies.

Check out the Agrowknowledge website for career ideas and educational resources in the farming and agricultural industries. They’re growing fields – literally and figuratively!